Disney Shuts Down LucasArts Game Development - News

Disney has shut down LucasArts game development, according to GamesIndustry. The studio will now focus on licensing brands. With the shift the LucasArts has laid off a huge number of employyes. Only a small number of employees will remain employed to handle the licensing of games.

"After evaluating our position in the games market, we've decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company's risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games," a representative said. "As a result of this change, we've had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles."

LucasArts has been for the better part of a decade licensing out its franchises. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Lego Star Wars, Lego Indiana Jones, and Kinect Star Wars were all developed externally.

This move wasn't the most surprising. When Disney acquired LucasFilm, the parent company to Lucas Arts, Disney said the plan for LucasArts will be developing social and mobile games and to license out its franchises.